My experiences with the Civilization series are more recent, tracing back to playing the mobile version of Civilization V, to the sci-fi Beyond Earth, before finally obsessing over Civilization VI with my family in multiplayer matches for hundreds of hours. This is one of the only strategy series I’ve enjoyed and my time with the Civilization VII preview build continued this trend, outside of frustrations with the new Age system.

To start, Civilization VII seems to be a stunning game so far. I encountered only one minor crash so far, while it looked and performed well. As mentioned, this is all subject to change since it is an early build, but I generally enjoyed my time with it so far on the platform and saw no real issues of note yet.

The level of detail is a noticeable improvement over the previous mainline entry in the series. There is so much to see on each individual tile in the world. From the soldiers standing atop pieces of farmland or how each building has its own intricate design, there is so much to appreciate about the beauty of the experience.

Better yet, the build I played also made it feel like Civilization VII could be one of the best in the series at easing players into the overall strategy experience. The general idea is to play as a certain famous person from history and rule over a civilization to win against the rival civilizations in the world. This is done through a number of victory methods, such as Culture, Science, and War. These methods all have their own style, such as researching various categories like Mathematics and building a Library on the Science side or going all-out conquest if you prefer to win via War. Thankfully, the tutorials worked quite well in the time I’ve spent with the game so far in two of the three Ages.

There are even aspects I feel like I understand better now than I did with the hundreds of hours I put into Civilization VII. For instance, each troop you have in your civilization has different functions. They can move around the map, attack others, or even fortify their defenses. I feel like I better understand more specific troops, like the Army Commander. The game makes it more clear the possibilities troops like this one have, such as gathering together other troops for army-sized invasion squads.

Civilization VII is also quite speedy for a tactical game in this genre. Sure, you can take a long time each turn to figure out what you want to do, but everything is silky smooth. Completing actions is near-instantaneous, and the game guides you well on what to do next. This even includes the best quest routes for your particular victory preference.

Perhaps my favorite feature are the neat little narrative moments that happen randomly. A scout may die on the battlefield. You get to choose how to remember them. The different options will involve different rewards and outcomes, which makes for a unique playthrough each time.

With all of that said, though, I feel like after spending time with the build that there is an elephant in the room with Civilization VII. The new Age system might end up being a problematic gameplay choice, and I was not a fan of at all in these early sessions. In past games, you had different eras and the like. In this game, there are distinct Ages.

For the purposes of this preview, I checked out the Age of Antiquity and Age of Exploration. The former takes place before recorded history. How it works is you pick a hero to play as and a civilization. I appreciate the openness this time around, with the possibility to choose between locations. For instance, Confucius doesn’t have to pick Han China. He is able to pick other surrounding locales as well.

You then play through the Age you are in until it comes to an end. From there, it switches to the next Age, and you continue playing as the same leader. This is where the problem may lie. I feel like Ages felt a bit disconnected from one another in these early hours and experiences, unlike past games. You do play the multiple Ages in the same “match,” but they are segmented off in an odd way.

What I like is you can switch your civilizations (within reason) depending on your location and leader. For instance, one could go from Rome to Spain between ages. The problem is how some elements don’t make a lot of sense. While the rest of the game is clear cut and understandable, the Legacy and Ages seemed far from it. For one, there was a time my capital city changed between Ages to a different location. But I didn’t get the option to make this decision.

I also found it unclear what exactly carried over from Age to Age during this early session. Some building types did and certain points did, but not everything. The whole system may end up being a bit redundant and awkward. In the past, changing eras was seamless and smooth. Here, my initial impression is that they were rough, heavily divided, and confusing.

I definitely need more time with the Civilization VII Ages system leading up to our proper review. But, for now, the new feature feels unnecessarily awkward and frustrating. Hopefully, it makes more sense as I come to understand its quirks in later matches. If you can look past this, though, I suspect Civilization VII could end up feeling like the fastest, most stunning, and welcoming game in the series yet.

Sid Meier’s Civilization VII releases for the Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S on February 11, 2025.

The post Preview: Civilization VII’s Age System Feels Unnecessary appeared first on Siliconera.

You could suggest the end of the Nintendo Switch’s lifespan is coming quite soon when Nintendo revisits older titles like Donkey Kong Country Returns. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing! After all, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is a straightforward remaster that includes some neat quality-of-changes that make it worth a look 15 years later.

If there is one element in recent platformers that I find a bit annoying at times, it is the breezy difficulty. Games like Super Mario Wonder and even Astro Bot rarely challenged me. That isn’t the case at all with Donkey Kong Country Returns HD. If you like 2D platforming levels that will push you to your limits, this is the one to check out.

Across 80 levels set in multiple worlds, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD features countless different activities. From rocket-jumping your way through danger and riding a mine cart to bashing through foes atop the rhino Rambi, one of the best parts of the game remains its variety. I never got bored, since there was always something new to see and do as a first-time player of this particular entry. The Jungle world looks notably lush and vibrant with the game's remastered visuals. Meanwhile, the Beach feels bright, cheery, and reminiscent of Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze. More importantly, though, was the ever-present difficulty of this experience.

Much of the beauty of this comes from the distinct separation between the background and the foreground. Levels often have the player shoot out of a barrel to a part of the level closer to the screen. Then, they might complete that section and fire further back into the background to keep going. This isn’t just for show, either, as the mechanic plays into the challenges as well.

One of my favorite uses of this mechanic came during an octopus level. The entire level, we see a menacing octopus just chilling in the background and being all creepy. This isn’t for show, as the octopus will randomly bust its tentacles through the wall or ceiling to increase the difficulty and threaten Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong. This type of gameplay element still surprised me, even though we see the concept in other titles, and it kept me on my toes in an engaging way.

It ties into an important element of this title that remains as true now as it did in 2010. What Nintendo does best with Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is continuously surprise and delight a player with challenges and a wealth of experiences. Each of the core 80 levels is already enough of a hurdle to overcome when dealing with the speedy and well-thought-out obstacles and enemies, but there is so much to else to do and collect as well.

Even beyond the already substantial number of worlds, there are some secret levels you can unlock. There are four letters that spell out “KONG” in most levels, and finding all of them unlocks a special level in each world. These are by far the most difficult ones. They usually require precise movements and perfect timing to complete. In addition to that, there is a co-op mode. One player takes on the role of Donkey Kong, while the other plays as Diddy. I had the most fun exploring each 2D level with another person. You can feed off of one another and help each other out, which relieves some of the stress.

Of course, this remaster of Donkey Kong Country Returns wouldn’t be complete without some quality-of-life improvements. There is a general sharpening of the visuals. Each level pops with vibrant color and none of the grainy, blurry details of the Wii and 3DS versions.

More importantly, though, it is possible for things to feel a bit easier time with the new Modern Mode. This is an optional mode that gives you more hearts and lets someone hold more items. Naturally, the Classic Mode is still there for purists. But I find the Modern Mode is a neat addition for those fear they'll be frustrated.

Beyond a handful of graphical changes and a couple of meaningful changes like Modern Mode, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is a pretty straightforward remaster. In fact, I would say Nintendo plays its pretty safe here. I wouldn’t recommend going into it expecting anything too radically new. That said, if you are a newcomer like myself, it is well worth a look since this is one of the most rewarding Nintendo platformers. However, if you are a veteran, just know that this is mostly the same game from 15 years ago, but for the Switch.

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD releases for Nintendo Switch on January 16, 2025. It also appeared on the Wii and 3DS.

The post Review: Donkey Kong Country Returns HD Is a Straightforward Remaster appeared first on Siliconera.

Anime is going to have a massive 2025 year. The four seasons of anime ahead look to be some of the most exciting in a long time. There are brand new series like Sakamoto Days, alongside returning ones like Dragon Ball Daima. It is also the year for the end of many of the most popular anime series. But what is the most anticipated anime of 2025? Here is what the Siliconera staff has to say about that.

Siliconera Speaks Up: Most Anticipated Anime Series of 2025

Mine right now is Gnosia. Yes, part of it is because Gnosia is my current obsession, but I'm also really curious as to how the anime will adapt its unique story structure. It'll obviously have to keep the time loop thing, but how will it also have the different story events and Werewolf segment? Until we know more information about how many episodes it'll have, it's so hard to picture that I can't wait until it actually starts airing. I'm also super excited for the Twisted Wonderland anime, too! -- Stephanie

The most anticipated anime for me in 2025 has to be My Happy Marriage Season 2. The first season wowed me with its beautiful blend of romance series like Fruits Basket and Violet Evergarden. It tragically reminds me so much of a Kyoto Animation series and the wonderful people that were lost far too soon in 2019. If you want a stunning series with the best couple in anime in 2025, be sure to watch this one.

Special shoutouts also go to the final seasons of My Hero Academia and Dr. Stone, both of which should be spectacular. My Hero Academia’s most recent season is arguably its best and it should continue this trend into its final season. The same goes for Dr. Stone. In fact, I am fully expecting to put both of these series in the overall top 25 anime of all time when all is said and done for both of them. -- Cody

The post What Is the Most Anticipated Anime of 2025? appeared first on Siliconera.

It’s no secret The Pokémon Company and Game Freak largely ignored 2024. If it weren’t for Pokemon TCG Pocket, 2024 would’ve likely gone down as possibly the worst year in the history of the franchise. And this is even if the infamous leaks never happened. Thankfully, Pokemon has the chance to make 2025 a major comeback year with releases like Pokemon Legends Z-A and much more.

Take a look back at 2024 and there isn’t much to talk about. The Horizons anime did its thing alongside updates for the typical free-to-play titles. Of course, there was the monumental release of Pokemon TCG Pocket, which saved the year for the company. But no major DLC for Scarlet & Violet, remasters, remakes, other spin-offs, and so on.

The lack of releases in general wouldn’t be so bad on its own. After all, this has happened before in years like 2005 and 2015. That said, it has been almost 10 years of something new for players to enjoy outside of mobile titles every single year. But the worst part of it all has been the general radio silence from the company.

Sure, the leaks do play some role in this. However, TPC and Game Freak can’t put all of the blame on those leaks. After all, they happened in October 2024. That doesn’t even account for the lack of new info on games like Pokemon Legends Z-A from its initial reveal in late February 2024 to October 2024. That is about eight months TPC could’ve given the fan base something.

As such, we're going into 2025 when this game is supposed to release without almost any information about it. Nothing official about the starters, time period, characters, new Mega Evolutions, and so on. As such, 2024 will likely go down as one of the most disappointing years for Pokemon in the franchise’s history, if not the clear cut winner.

That is why it is so imperative 2025 goes all out to turn this around. Sure, it is not quite the 30th anniversary of the series — that’s next year in 2026 — but there is still so much that can happen. The obvious part is Legends Z-A needs to be one of the best games in the series. It needs to take the open-world collectathon vibes of Legends Arceus and amp it up a notch. Make battles more prominent, have a great story, and generally feel like the second chance Generation VI desperately needs.

But it shouldn't stop there. We are long past due for some older titles to come to Switch. Whether on the Switch 2 or on the original Switch, we need to see Generations I-III come to the Nintendo Switch Online service. This should’ve happened in 2024 to avoid such a long drought, but better late than never regardless. I could even see these NSO releases be an exclusive for Switch 2 only, which would be a shame, but I’ll take what I can get.

Of course, the juggernaut that is Pokemon TCG Pocket shouldn't stop, either. New sets, events, and cards are inevitable. The main new feature I’d like to see beyond trading is a release on Switch and Switch 2. Sure, the game is designed to be played in portrait, but some adjusting can be done with the background to make it work in a landscape viewpoint on Switch. If anything, this could explain its release long after the mobile version.

Finally, I’d like to see some sort of surprise from the company in 2025. This could be in the form of an early Generation 10 announcement ahead of 2026 or a new spin-off game. My personal wish would be for a new Mystery Dungeon or a remaster of Pokemon Colosseum or XD: Gale of Darkness. That said, I’d even settle for a Pokken Tournament 2, which would be a great Switch 2 launch title to mirror what happened in 2017 with the original Switch.

Regardless, 2025 is The Pokémon Company’s chance to redeem an almost historically abysmal 2024. Pokemon Legends Z-A should absolutely be the headliner for the year, but far from the only showstopper. Other releases and announcements like older games, spin-off titles, and impressive updates for TCG Pocket are equally a must.

Pokemon Legends Z-A will release sometime in 2025 for Nintendo Switch.

The post Game Freak Must Do Better in 2025 With Legends Z-A appeared first on Siliconera.

As we enter a brand new year, it is time to look ahead. 2025 has so many amazing games coming out. From new JRPGs to remakes of classic titles, there is so much ahead. The Siliconera staff came together to reveal the most anticipated game of 2025 for each of us. Here are the games we think you should be looking forward to this year.

Siliconera Speaks Up: Most Anticipated Game of 2025

It's Monster Hunter Wilds. I need to play more of this game. The environments are amazing, with huge biomes that basically get a two-in-one effect when the seasons change. The monsters are great. The FASHION! I need it. I had the most fun with it when I played an early build. It feels so fantastic and rich already. I can't wait to play more. -- Jenni

My most anticipated would also be Monster Hunter Wilds, but that game needs no introduction. Instead, I'm starting to get a little interested in Avowed. A slick and updated Skyrim-like experience with some interesting weapons sounds like a good time, even if I wasn't paying too much attention to it before now. I'm also certainly going to pick up Civilization VII, though to be honest I'm yet to get too enthused about what I've seen. The art style, the mechanics… none of it has grabbed me, but I'd love to be surprised. -- Elliot

My most anticipated is Penny Blood! To this day, I'm hoping to see a remake or remaster of the Shadow Hearts series and I was so excited when I saw the news of the combined Kickstarter with Armed Fantasia. Considering the studio's recent troubles, as well as the lack of any meaningful updates in the Kickstarter e-mails, I'm not sure if we'll get it in 2025 anymore though… -- Stephanie

I've been eagerly waiting for the full release of Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist since earlier in 2024. Luckily, I won't have to wait long since the game is coming out very early into the year! I can't wait to jump into the world that Ender Lilies started and see what has changed in between the first game and the second one. -- Daniel

With the information we have right now, 2025 looks to have some solid titles, but my pick for my most anticipated game is The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak II. The Legend of Heroes series is up there for one of my favorite video game franchises. Trails through Daybreak was great, but just short of the level of other firsts in the series. I still think Trails in the Sky, Trails of Cold Steel, and Trails from Zero were all a bit better. But the potential is absolutely there with a solid cast, the gorgeous Calvard Republic, and a pretty fun morally gray storyline. I’m hoping Trails through Daybreak II fulfills the potential of the first title with a longer JRPG that has even more of the memorable side quests similar to the original. -- Cody

The post What Is the Most Anticipated Game of 2025? appeared first on Siliconera.

The Nintendo Switch is near the very top of the best-selling video game consoles of all time. However, that doesn’t mean the hybrid console is perfect. There are some notable features it’s missing, especially in the multimedia department. The Nintendo Switch 2 has the chance to fix these issues with streaming apps like Crunchyroll and Netflix at launch.

As of right now, the bulk of the streaming apps on the original Switch include Hulu, YouTube, Crunchyroll, and Twitch. That is a pretty decent selection with plenty of material to check out. Except the problem is most of these apps weren’t available for Switch even in its first year. It took far too long for fans to be able to stream quality video content across these apps on the platform.

However, that isn’t even the main issue here. There are still notable apps missing from the Switch that will probably never come to it. This includes the likes of Netflix, Disney+, Max, Prime Video, Paramount+, and so much more. At one point, Nintendo’s own Super Mario Bros. movie was on Netflix to stream and you couldn’t even watch it on the company’s hardware.

It is even more frustrating when the likes of apps like Netflix were available on previous Nintendo systems like Wii U and even the original Wii itself. Now, the argument some would say is why does it matter in 2025 with smartphones and smart TVs so plentiful? While true, more options are always better than none. After all, no one prevented the PS5 from having Netflix just because the TV you’re connected to likely already has the app.

Convenience is always nice and not having to switch platforms constantly is a plus. The Switch 2 will possibly have a larger screen than the original, so it would be nice to be able to stream shows and movies on there. This is especially true when traveling where you can just bring your Switch and phone instead of having to bring your bulky laptop or tablet to stream on.

Then there is the benefit for families. Parents may not want to give their younger kids a phone, but they would be open to a Switch. This saves them money if apps like Disney+ and YouTube are on there, so they don’t have to also get them a tablet to stream on. In addition, having multiple kids can be helped if one child is using a Switch, another is on a tablet, and perhaps a third is using a parent’s phone.

In the end, the Nintendo Switch 2 will likely be pretty similar to its predecessor. This gives Nintendo the chance to address some key flaws of the Switch. Chief among these issues is the lack of streaming apps. Here’s hoping the Nintendo Switch 2 addresses this head on and quickly. I hope to see apps like Netflix and Crunchyroll on the Nintendo Switch 2 at launch.

The Nintendo Switch 2 is expected to be announced and launch sometime in 2025.

The post Nintendo Switch 2 Needs Streaming Apps Like Crunchyroll and Netflix appeared first on Siliconera.

Jujutsu Kaisen is one of the most popular, best anime series in recent memory. It is certainly the next shonen to take the mantle of best around from the likes of Demon Slayer and My Hero Academia. While Season 2 was exceptional and a large improvement over the first season, the best is yet to come with Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3’s adaptation of the Culling Game Arc.

The longest story arc of the entire series is almost here. There are a couple of shorter arcs that will need to be taken care of first in Season 3, but the star of the show will be the arrival of the Culling Game Arc. I won’t spoil too much here, but there are some light spoilers ahead. As the name implies, this is pretty much a jujutsu sorcerer battle royale. If you liked Dragon Ball Super’s Tournament of Power, this is for you.

It mixes together some of my favorite themes together at once. You get the usual extraordinary action and art this series is known for. In addition, though, you get a healthy dose of death games, which is my favorite category of media in general. That is, of course, if fans can get through the rough parts of the initial few episodes.

The highs of Season 2 are going to lead to some new lows at the start of the new season. The couple of shorter arcs following the aftermath of the Shibuya Incident are forgettable at best. This is mainly since they are there to set up the final portion of this beloved series. But if you are able to get past these weaker episodes, Season 3 will likely be the best season yet.

Some of the series’ best fights ever happen during the Culling Game Arc. Some of the fan-favorite characters go up against each other in shocking ways. I actually appreciate the structure of the arc, too, dividing up the main cast in different locations. This allows the death game to feel better focused than it otherwise would.

Sure, this does mean, though, that you will likely go without seeing some characters. This was particularly noticeable in the manga, as it dragged on a bit longer than it should have. This is why the Vs. Mahito Arc is still my personal favorite in the series since it accomplished so much in such a short time. That said, I think the Culling Game Arc will work much better in anime form. The pacing should be much stronger and faster than in the original manga’s release. It helps, too, that the consistent weekly release schedule will keep fans interested.

The one element that might hold back Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 is MAPPA. Season 2 had some exceptional animation, but the studio also showed some visual flaws towards the end. I am concerned about the workload for the animators and the stress that is on them. If Season 3 comes out in 2025, which I expect it to, this is a pretty fast turnaround. I am a bit worried if the animation quality will get the attention the Culling Game Arc deserves.

That said, if Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 does find a way to balance a healthy work schedule with quality, this will easily be the best season yet. Without spoiling too much, I even think it will be better than the inevitable final arc of the series that comes after. There is so much that happens during this arc that will shake the core of the anime community. Even with the likes of My Hero Academia’s final season and the Demon Slayer final movie trilogy ahead in 2025, Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 could still stand toe-to-toe with them and be the best season of the series, if done right.

Jujutsu Kaisen is streaming currently on Crunchyroll.

The post Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 Culling Game Arc Will Be the Best Season appeared first on Siliconera.

Square Enix is gearing up for an intriguing year for Final Fantasy XIV in 2025. We know with the release of Dawntrail in 2024 that 2025 will be the slower year for the MMORPG. There won’t be a new expansion, but there will be frequent patches with new story and gameplay content. To help offset the lighter year, there are some FFXIV crossovers and events we want to see in 2025.

I would like to see a mix of returning events from the past we haven’t seen in a bit and brand new ones as well. Starting with the older events, it is high time for Lightning to come back to FFXIV. The Final Fantasy XIII crossover event first happened in 2013 soon after the launch of the MMORPG. It came back two more times for a grand total of three appearances.

This sounds great and all until you realize when we last saw Lightning. Though this event happened three separate times, the final time was in late 2014. More than 10 years later and we haven’t seen Lightning since. This means a huge portion of the player base has not even had the chance to get the rewards from this particular event. It is in dire need of a return, especially if a possible FFXIII trilogy remaster on the horizon.

In addition to that one, I would like to see the return of some fan-favorites like the Yokai Watch event. This is by far one of my favorite events in FFXIV history. It is so inventive how the player needs to put on the bracelet and do a bunch of FATEs to collect the various spirits. The problem is this event never has enough time, in my opinion. I can’t be the only one missing a few Yokai so it would be nice to see it come back for a few weeks, if not a full month.

In terms of brand new FFXIV events and crossovers I want in 2025, it all start with Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. We already got a FFXVI event with Clive and Torgal, but not the second remake in this trilogy. Having characters like Zack and Aerith appear in the MMO for a short time with some unique outfits or rewards would be fantastic. Plus, we could get some fun character interactions on top of this.

I would also like to see some new crossovers with non-Square Enix titles as well. We had the Monster Hunter event in the past, which is great since it has a neat Trial boss battle. With the release of Monster Hunter Wilds in early 2025, it feels like a great time to bring this crossover back but with a new Trial battle and rewards. This would be a solid way to promote this new Capcom title and reward FFXIV fans.

Even though 2025 is going to be a light year for FFXIV, it doesn’t have to be a loss. There is so much potential for possible events and crossovers in the next year. It would be best to have a mix of old events like FFXIII and new ones like for FFVII Rebirth. This would make this otherwise slower year of content far more engaging and fun for the community.

Final Fantasy XIV is available for PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.

The post FFXIV Crossovers and Events We Want in 2025 appeared first on Siliconera.

Most years, there is an anime hit that comes out of nowhere (or perhaps expectedly so) and takes the internet and anime community by storm. Everyone is cosplaying its characters, reading the manga, and discussing each week’s episode. Looking ahead to 2025, if there is any new anime on Crunchyroll with the potential to be a massive hit, it has to be Witch Hat Atelier.

The premise of this particular series is quite familiar and straightforward. Coco is a girl that grows up wanting nothing more than to be a witch. Magic is a huge part of her world’s society and she wants to be one of the exclusive witches able to wield it. However, if you are not born inherently with magic, you aren’t able to become a witch. Sadly, that is the case for Coco.

That is, until a certain witch arrives in her small town. As you might expect, things go haywire, revelations are discovered, and Coco finds her life turned upside down. In the process, she is able to embark on a journey that presents her with the possible chance to make her dreams come true and become a witch.

I won’t dive too much deeper into the story or plot as to avoid spoilers. But just know that not everything in the world and story is as it seems. And this is all within the first few chapters of the first volume that I read recently in preparation for the upcoming 2025 anime adaptation. I have no doubt now this is going to be one of the biggest new anime of 2025.

For one, Witch Hat Atelier already has the classic zero to hero vibes going on. This is a prevalent story mechanic we see in a lot of popular anime series like Naruto, My Hero Academia, and more. But it goes beyond this, as the series continues to surprise with every single chapter.

There is such rich lore and history within the world. Fortunately, the manga creator Kamome Shirahama recognizes this and gives the proper attention and detail this series deserves. Better yet, the characters are also solid favorites of mine instantly. Coco herself is the classic wide-eyed hero with brilliant hopes and dreams. She is simultaneously funny and someone you can cheer for. But, at the same time, she is far smarter than other similar anime protagonists.

Then there is her teacher in Qifrey. This guy not only looks like Gojo from Jujutsu Kaisen, but he kind of acts like him a bit, too. He is a slightly off-kilter and goofy guy with a likable personality. I already see plenty of cosplay potential for this series. Not to mention, I imagine Qifrey himself will have some diehard fans in the future. But it doesn’t stop with them, as the supporting cast is also pretty great from the start.

Above all else, though, the most significant potential of the Witch Hat Atelier anime is the visuals. This manga series has some of the best art I have seen in a long time. Shirahama has a high level of detail that is so rarely seen in rushed manga. Every incantation, spell, and location is rife with intricate features. It makes the world feel so alive even with the black and white pages.

If the anime studio Bug Films is able to even remotely come close to adapting this unique art style well, the Witch Hat Atelier anime will be one of the best-looking of 2025. Its previous work, Zom100, looked spectacular with its pop of colors. I imagine it should be a similar situation here. If done right, Witch Hat Atelier is the anime to watch in 2025. Prepare to see tons of cosplays, reaction videos, merch, and trending posts about it in the very near future.

The Witch Hat Atelier anime series will release sometime in 2025, and it will be streaming on Crunchyroll. You can read the manga right now via Kodansha.

The post Witch Hat Atelier Has Potential to Be the Next Anime Hit in 2025 appeared first on Siliconera.

The past year saw the release of so many excellent titles across all genres. But there are, sadly, some games that didn’t see the success or popularity they otherwise deserved. The Siliconera staff has come up with our picks for the most underrated game of 2024 that you should pick up and play, especially over the holiday season.

Siliconera Speaks Up: Most Underrated Game of 2024

Arco is absolutely amazing. It's such a fascinating strategy game with unique combat system and gameplay. Plus the places it takes us, people we meet, and stories it tells feel unique. I loved seeing how it all came together in the end. Plus, it looks so different, but so gorgeous. -- Jenni

It's not the most revolutionary game in the world, but I'd still like to go to bat for Sand Land. It had that charming Toriyama style, fun vehicle customization and was just a cozy, fun time all the way through. Plus, I like that the stealth-takedown animation is just the prince making a scary face at some soldiers so they faint. -- Elliot

I found Isles of Sea and Sky truly wonderful, and I need more people to give it a try. It is a sokoban style puzzle game with open-ended world exploration and a progression system that borrows from Zelda and Metroidvanias. I usually struggle to fully get through most puzzle games, even if I like them a lot, but with Isles of Sea and Sky I could not get enough of it. It helps a lot that the pixel art graphics have a cozy SNES or Game Boy Color vibe and the music is a delight. Seriously, give it a try! -- Daniel

There are quite a lot of picks this year for the most underrated game of 2024. My overall pick has to be Emio - The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club. This is a stunning visual novel that isn’t too difficult, with a solid mystery. Its ending is a bit weird, but if you stick with it, it balloons into a masterpiece conclusion everyone should check out. The other pick I have to point out is Ova Magica. It has some early access quirks about it, but this game beautifully blends farming sims and Pokemon together in a neat, colorful way. I just wish there was more content. -- Cody

The post What Is the Most Underrated Game of 2024? appeared first on Siliconera.

Atlus has released banger after banger the last couple of years, and 2024, in particular, was an incredible year for the studio. New, definitive versions of existing games, remakes of older titles, and even some brand new experimentation with new series. As we look forward to 2025, though, it is now time for Atlus to release Persona 6.

To start, let’s take a look back at the studio behind Persona 5 and its Royal version, P-Studio. This is the studio designated to make your favorite Persona games. While many of the creators from the original mainline game went on to make Metaphor: ReFantazio, P-Studio still exists as the future of this particular series.

P-Studio’s last work, at the time of writing, was Persona 3 Reload in February 2024 and the last new game before that was Persona 5 Tactica in November 2023. The problem with these two games is the former is a remake of an existing title, while the latter was a smaller spin-off. P-Studio has always shown it is able to make these types of games in between the larger titles without affecting them too much.

Before those two games, it was Persona 5 Royal as the main game P-Studio worked on, which came out in 2019 in Japan and 2020 worldwide. The development team there has been working on pretty much spin-offs, remakes, and re-releases since the original release of P5 in 2016. That certainly sounds like plenty of time to work on a more significant new title amidst all of these.

Even if, for instance, P-Studio didn’t start working on Persona 6 until after Royal, that would be going on six years in 2025 of full-time development. While we have waited much longer than that in the past between mainline releases, the previous title laid the groundwork visually for what Persona 6 can offer. The same can even be said for Metaphor and SMTV in some ways.

As such, six years to come out with Persona 6 seems like a pretty reasonable timeframe. If nothing else, it seems likely to expect an announcement of the game with a formal release date sometime in the next year. The question then remains whether or not we also see it release in the same year of 2025. This is possible, but most likely in the latter half of the year.

The benefit of this, though, would be the ability for the new release to learn from past releases. For instance, it could release simultaneously worldwide for multiple platforms. I want to see Persona 6 come out for Switch 2, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC at the same time. In addition, I want it to take some of the ideas from past games like Metaphor.

For instance, I love how the Bonds system works in that 2024 JRPG. They are much shorter, sweeter, and to the point. They have eight stages to each relationship, rather than the usual 10. Better yet, there is no weird unnecessary mechanic like reversing relationships or needing to waste time to hang out with someone just to reach the next level on the next hangout.

This is exactly how the social links or Confidants in the upcoming mainline entry should work. Let go of the fluff and let players just focus on the relationship with the various characters. Beyond social links, I also hope to see a male and female protagonist. It is high time for this feature. Sure, it does take a lot of work, but it is worth it. If this means both protagonists are able to romance every option, so be it. Otherwise, specific dialogues and events will be necessary for both sides.

Then there is the combat side of Persona 6. I adore how Metaphor allows players to enjoy both action and turn-based combat. You can mash away and defeat some enemies without ever transitioning to a combat screen. This is such a great hybrid system and we need an expansion of that. Allow players to fully take on all normal, non-boss enemies this way. There should be a dodge, block, and Persona skills you can use.

Finally, there needs some serious work on the pacing and story. What really annoys me about the recent Atlus games is how awkward the storytelling can be at times. For instance, Persona 5’s best story arcs are the very first one and the very last one in Royal. It is a similar situation for Metaphor, too. The beginning of that story up through the Martira Arc is the most compelling part.

It is time for the stories to be engaging from start to finish. And it is certainly time for the new definitive versions like Royal to go away for good. I am all for DLC like Episode Aigis that expands the existing game. But it is downright disrespectful to expect players to play through a 100-hour JRPG a possibly second time with a new version just to see the new content.

2025 feels like the right year for Persona 6. It will have been nine years since the original release of Persona 5 in 2025. Atlus has the chance to shock the world with one of the best JRPGs of all time next year. Let’s just hope that it is announced and released sometime in 2025.

Persona 5 Royal is available right now for Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.

The post The Time Is Right for Persona 6 in 2025 appeared first on Siliconera.

Oshi no Ko is one of the best anime and manga series in recent memory, but what about the live action series? Well, I watched the entire series from start to finish to let everyone know. The Oshi no Ko live action series isn’t actually bad at all; just decent. However, this series is very much made, specifically, for existing manga and anime fans.

The main issue behind this Japanese TV series is the format of it. It has eight episodes in total in its first and only season, adapting a large portion of the manga in a handful of episodes. Though these eight episodes are more than double the length of a normal anime episode, it does so much in so little time.

Without spoiling too much, the only existing season of this series adapts both seasons of the anime within eight episodes and even goes beyond that point in the manga. There are entire episodes that adapt a single arc, while others are done in a couple of episodes. This is such a swift pace that anyone new to the series will likely be left behind pretty easily.

The series just doesn’t take enough time for some plot points to resonate. Some of my favorite scenes only last for a minute at best. For instance, there is the fight between Akane and Arima during the Tokyo Blade production. This part almost needs 10-20 minutes to really dive into their argument and the backstories between them. However, it is done in a few seconds.

This unbelievably fast pace does lead to some positives. For one, it is a great way to recap the series for existing fans. In addition, some of the twists and turns have surprising emotional impact since they come out of nowhere at times. But if you are new, this is not the place to start.

Another concerning aspect of the Oshi no Ko live action series is what it changes. Some of this is intentional and interesting, but others are downright problematic. I won’t spoil the premise for newcomers, but it revolves around a pregnant teen idol. The manga and anime start with this twist and shows the idol Ai giving birth and all that.

However, this live action adaptation skips straight to Ai’s twin children as toddlers. Worse still, it doesn’t properly address Ai’s doctor and that situation until the end. This is even though this is the very beginning of the series. It is an intriguing change I like. But if you aren’t familiar with the storyline, it is confusing and unnecessary.

Then there are the changes to the Tokyo Blade story arc. In the original series, this is a stage play. This live action series was an excellent chance to make a real-life stage play episode. However, that isn’t the case. Not only is there not enough footage of Tokyo Blade itself, but it is a TV series rather than a stage play now. This is by far the most controversial change for me, which made this already somewhat boring arc even worse.

There is also a key missing character, which I dare not spoil here. But the return to Miyazaki Prefecture doesn’t see the introduction of a certain person there. Overall, the Oshi no Ko live action series will be quite confusing for newcomers to the franchise. It is a shame because the production value and most of the actors are excellent; just look at Ai’s opening performance scene and you’ll see. Nagisa Saito as Ruby is particularly impressive and she only gets better as the series goes on.

Unfortunately, though, the Oshi no Ko live action series is made in a way where it only works for existing fans. Whether you miss the manga or are waiting for the anime to come back, this is a great way to recap the series. It moves so fast that it doesn’t waste your time and it adapts the series well to live action. However, if you are new, it is best to read the manga or watch the two seasons of the anime first before checking this out.

The Oshi no Ko live action series is available on Prime Video.

The post Oshi no Ko Live Action Series Only Works for Existing Fans appeared first on Siliconera.

With the launch of Infinity Nikki in late 2024, it is now time to look ahead at what’s next for the free-to-play gacha game in 2025. If Love Nikki and other past games are anything to go off of, event collaborations are likely to happen at some point. The best scenario for Infinity Nikki would be event collaborations and crossovers with Sanrio and Disney in 2025.

As of the time of writing, Infinity Nikki already has a whopping 20 million downloads and counting. That is quite impressive for a game to accomplish in less than a month. It is imperative that Infold Games takes advantage of this massive player base across mobile, console, and PC sooner rather than later. After all, players move on from games quite fast.

One of the key features of Love Nikki from my brief time with it was the event collaborations. There were some excellent Disney crossovers that saw fantastic dresses show up in the game based on popular princesses like Cinderella, Ariel, and more. These not only looked incredible within the 2D experience, but they boosted further interest in the mobile game.

A similar situation could happen with Infinity Nikki if it had its own event collaborations. Disney is a must for sure, as there are just too many great possibilities for outfits, but this time in 3D. I’d, personally, love to see additions of characters like Rapunzel from Tangled, Moana, and Mulan.

Players, including myself, would absolutely be willing to shell out some hard-earned cash for these official Disney outfits in-game. Some of them would even make sense for the various abilities that the outfits have in this open-world title. For instance, Rapunzel’s dress might be a gliding dress and be available when leaping around. Or a Snow White dress might be great for grooming animals.

Beyond Disney, I’d also like to see a Sanrio collaboration in Infinity Nikki. The possibilities here are almost limitless. It would require a bit more creativity to make dresses and outfits work for human characters, rather than anthropomorphic creatures, but it would be worth the effort.

Just think of all the Sanrio characters having outfits in this title. You could get a simple dress and hair bow similar to what Hello Kitty has. Or you could get an intricate black outfit with skulls using Kuromi’s style for inspiration. I, personally, would be the first in the world to purchase a cute blue and white outfit based on Cinnamoroll.

There are a couple of ways these Infinity Nikki event collaborations with Disney and Sanrio could work. For one, the outfits could appear in the in-game shop. This would require players to actually spend real-world currency for the Stellarites to get them. But it would be nice if one or two outfits appeared in an event banner.

There would be so much room for additional items as well. How about a cloak for Momo that makes him look like My Melody? You could get this cloak through a Mira Journey pass or for pulling so many times on the event banner. The potential is just incredible, especially from a business perspective for Infold Games. If the developer wants to maximize the possibilities for Infinity Nikki, it is my hope we get monumental event crossovers with Disney, Sanrio, and more in the future.

Infinity Nikki is available for free on Android, iOS, PS5, and PC.

The post Infinity Nikki Needs Sanrio and Disney Event Collaborations in 2025 appeared first on Siliconera.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba is nearing the end of its legendary anime run from Ufotable. To celebrate the conclusion of the series, the grand finale will be a three-part movie trilogy. While this sounds epic, there is part of me that wishes the Demon Slayer Infinity Castle movie trilogy was just a new season of the anime series.

For starters, there is the fact that this franchise has already dabbled in movies in the past, including the highest-grossing Japanese movie of all time in Mugen Train. So, from a financial perspective, I completely get it. But Ufotable still turned around and converted that film into a TV series version. As such, I presume they will eventually do the same with this new trilogy.

Since that is likely to be the case, I would prefer to see the TV version first. In fact, it makes more sense to me to release the TV version first and then a compilation of movies that sum up and perhaps add a bit more at the end in terms of an epilogue in theaters after that. My main reasoning behind this is I just enjoy this franchise as a series more.

Sure, the epic grand conclusion of this series includes some of the likely best battles in anime history, but if anything needed a movie version, it was the recent Hashira Training Arc. That one dragged on way too long and had little going for it, so shortening it into a lightning fast movie would’ve at least trimmed the fat.

Then there is the fact that a movie trilogy is likely to lose some of the context and detail that a TV series would have. For instance, let’s imagine that it takes 24 episodes for a final season of Demon Slayer Infinity Castle. That would equal to roughly 480 minutes of the series, and that is if they are only 20 minute episodes each. Presumably, one or two of them would go longer.

Alternatively, even if all three movies are two hours long, that is only 360 minutes of content. Sure, I think the end of the manga can work this way. But that is a whole lot of time that a TV series version would be able to adapt better. This would allow for the proper time for some of the fights between the Hashira and the demons that non-manga fans are not ready for.

Not to mention, there is something generally special about waiting each week with the community. Everyone waits impatiently to find out what happens next. And I can already predict some of the great cliffhangers they might leave us on.

Sure, this can and will happen with the movie trilogy, but there is a problem here. We have no idea when the movies will release. We only know at this time that the first movie is coming in 2025. There is no guarantee that all three will release in 2025. In fact, I think it is a bit delusional to expect that. At best, we get two films in 2025 and a third in 2026.

At worst, though? We could see a new Demon Slayer Infinity Castle movie every year until 2027. That would be an excruciating wait. This is doubly so since we’d presumably get the full final season in 2025. Even if the series did half of the season in 2025 and the other half in early 2026, it would still likely beat out the movie trilogy version.

This is also because movies have a stigma with them. An anime studio needs to go all out with even higher quality animation and details. You basically have to have the “finished product” so to speak in a theater. On the other hand, sometimes TV series have a bit of a roughness to them that can be addressed in a future Blu-Ray or movie release.

Furthermore, Ufotable arguably has the best overall animation quality in the industry. They don’t need to go any bigger or better than they already do. That just unnecessarily puts more strain and stress on the artists who are already overworked and underpaid enough.

Having the Demon Slayer Infinity Castle movie trilogy be a TV series instead is just the better option. It would allow everything to come out slightly sooner without the quality expectations a movie would require. In addition, a movie trilogy compilation release could still happen after the fact with extra content for fans. Regardless, I still look forward to watching the first movie in theaters in 2025.

The Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle movie trilogy will release the first film in 2025. You can watch the main series on Crunchyroll right now.

The post Demon Slayer Infinity Castle Movie Trilogy Should’ve Been a Series Instead appeared first on Siliconera.

When I look back at 2024, I see a ton of games that appealed directly to me. From so many JRPGs, like Metaphor: ReFantazio, to remakes like FFVII Rebirth and Persona 3 Reload, I had a lot to look forward to, then enjoy. But in the end, one of the best games of 2024 for me, happens to be the last-minute release Infinity Nikki.

There’s no denying 2024 is one of the most incredible years in gaming recently. Especially for people interested in Japanese titles. This year was all about JRPGs and games in existing franchises. However, in some ways it also ended up being a disappointing one until Infinity Nikki came along. Even with so many excellent titles that I enjoyed, almost every one also disappointed me in small or surprising ways.

I could go through and name all of the major flaws that held back nearly every single one of my favorite titles. FFVII Rebirth, for instance, is a near masterpiece in every category… except when it comes to its ending. That moment is a small part of the overall experience, but its confusing and awkward execution did nothing but leave such a sour taste in my mouth. The same goes for the entire second half of Metaphor: ReFantazio. Despite its unmatched gameplay and style, it faltered.

Then there is Trails through Daybreak, which feels a bit too short. It is great, but I feel it is the weakest of the first entries in the four sub-series of that franchise thus far. FFXIV Dawntrail is the continuation of an MMORPG that should’ve ended with Endwalker. It went beyond my expectations, but still ultimately felt unnecessary. The list goes on and on.

Only one game stands tall from start to finish as my most impeccable experience this year, and that is surprisingly Infinity Nikki. This is the most pure gaming fun I’ve had with an experience outside of a Nintendo game like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. The open-world is a true joy to explore. There are so many puzzles, minigames, and even light combat scenarios around every corner. There is something to see and do every few feet in Miraland.

Then there is the dress-up aspect, which is the best you’ll find in any game period. The level of gorgeous detail in each outfit, from the smallest accessories to the most extravagant gowns, is on a level no game will come close to reaching in the future. It unlocked this side of me I never knew existed that loves cosmetics and making my character look perfect. And the most hilarious part is I am not the general target audience for this experience, either.

Beyond all that, there is the story, which is perhaps the most shocking part of Infinity Nikki. The writing here is far and away better than most games I’ve played this year. The plot goes in some dark and twisted directions I didn’t expect, with some great twists popping up along the way. There are also some memorable characters like Raggy and Giovanni, that will go up there with some of my all-time favorite gaming characters like Goro Akechi from Persona 5. Sure, Infold does rush the story a bit too much near the end of the portion available in 2024, but even this flaw feels minuscule compared to everything else I played this year.

Overall, Infinity Nikki is the best game I have played from start to finish in 2024, despite being free-to-play. The monetization is great, too, allowing you to play the entire base story without paying a dime if you don’t want to. It is a true shame it came out so late in the year, so you won’t likely see it in the overall Siliconera awards or the like. From the dress-up aspects to the remarkably designed open-world to minigames to the unforgettable characters, every single part is masterfully crafted. Even if it doesn’t seem like your cup of tea, I recommend everyone to check out my Game of the Year 2024.

Infinity Nikki is available right now for free on Android and iOS devices, the PS5, and PCs.

The post Infinity Nikki Still Managed to Be One of the Best Games in 2024 appeared first on Siliconera.